On January 9, hundreds of thousands of devotees of the Black Nazarene flooded the streets of Manila, following the revered statue throughout its journey from the Quirino Grandstand to the halls of Quiapo Church.
As of writing, the Philippine National Police has recorded over 430,000 faithful taking part in the centuries-old procession, although this number is expected to rise throughout the day. In 2025, the number of people recorded reached 8.12 million.
However, Traslacion is not without its casualties. Currently, one participant, a journalist identified as Son H. Del Mundo, collapsed and passed away while covering the procession. The Philippine Red Cross has recorded 465 devotees who received medical and welfare assistance, with 10 reportedly classified as major cases.
Participants wake up well before dawn to walk the 6-kilometer route, which can last as long as 22 hours. Dressed in red and yellow shirts, they strain to get close to the Nazareno and its andas, reaching for the carriage’s ropes or tossing white handkerchiefs to be blessed. Many choose to walk Traslacion barefoot to commiserate with Christ’s suffering as he carried his cross to Golgotha.
Photographer Geloy Concepcion gives us an on-the-ground look in this year’s procession with his photographs. He has walked Traslacion since 2011, making this his 15th year observing the procession. Despite relocating to California, he has always made a point of returning home for Traslacion and has even sought out locations in the United States featuring the Black Nazarene’s image.
“‘Yong mommy ko kasi, devotee talaga ng Nazareno,” the photographer said. “Nakasama ako noon, tapos nagtuloy-tuloy na. Parang naging tradition na rin sa family.”
While taking photographs of this year’s Traslacion, Concepcion emphasized his need to present his own personal perspective in his shots. “Parang hindi [lang] photographer,” he said “dapat photographer na deboto, parang ganoon na lang.”
When asked what he prays for at Traslacion, Concepcion said that his request rarely changes. “Nagdadasal lang ako para sa good health ng buong pamilya,” he said. “‘Yun lang lagi kong hinihiling, walang iba.”
